Owen Smith has called for a new inquiry into antisemitism in the Labour Party, saying the report compiled by Shami Chakrabarti lacked credibility among British Jews.
Mr Smith, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership, said a “new, much more detailed, much higher powered review” was needed, because the Chakrabarti inquiry was “not viewed by the Jewish community as being adequate”.
Mr Smith made the comment during a debate with Mr Corbyn on the BBC’s Question Time programme.
They clashed over the issue of antisemitism, with the Welsh MP saying the Labour leader “has not been strong enough in speaking out against it”.
Mr Corbyn responded: “Antisemitism is absolutely and totally unacceptable anywhere within our society, anywhere in our party, anywhere in our world.”
He also said he was “disappointed” over comments by Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth that under his leadership the party was not a safe place for Jews.
Ms Smeeth is currently under police protection after receiving antisemtic abuse, including a death threat.
Mr Corbyn said: “I’m very disappointed Ruth would say that.
“She was herself subject to some appalling abuse earlier this week and indeed last weekend and I send my support and sympathy and solidarity to her, as I would to anybody else who’s subject to any kind of abuse. I do not accept any kind of racist abuse in any form.”
Mr Corbyn was challenged by a member of the audience over his relationship with Hamas.
To heckles from the audience, Saul Millar, a student at King David High School in Manchester, said: “Jeremy says he’s anti-racism, yet he supports groups such as Hamas, who call for the death of all Jews.”
The Labour leader responded: “No, I do not support Hamas, you know that.
“What I’ve done is I have met people from Hamas – yes I have. Do I agree with them? No – on that.
“Do I think there is a chance, one day, of getting a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, yes I absolutely do and want that to happen.”
In a 2009 speech, Mr Corbyn referred to both Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends”.
In July this year he said he regretted using those words, adding: “It was inclusive language I used which with hindsight I would rather not have used.”
